Weight Loss and Bow Tie Courage

I’m a former fat guy. The excess weight was the result of a few decades of a happy life and an office worker lifestyle. But after some medical numbers and the number of prescription bottles in my medicine chest got a bit too high, I decided it was time for a change and shed sixty pounds over a year’s time.

I feel great now. I’m off most medications. I’m physically healthier, my mental health improved as well and overall my mood is better. An added benefit of the change was learning that losing weight is a great societal experiment. There are any number of observations I can share on being a heavy person compared to being a thin person. But the one aspect I’ll focus on is this: Thin people can get away with wearing pretty much anything without being judged harshly.

No, it’s not fair: But it’s the world we live in.

Not only can the trim, twenty-seven year old up and coming actor can wear jeans and t-shirt to an black tie awards ceremony and get the cover of a magazine. The twenty-seven (or forty-seven) year old office worker can get away with a being a bit funky in his office attire with a 34″ waist than with a 44″ waist.

We simply don’t cut heavy people as much slack when it comes to fashion. Would Bruce/Kaitlyn Jenner being getting the type of coverage – much less the cover of Vogue – if she was 260 pounds?

Rob McElhenny

A good example is Rob McElhenny’s character in season seven of the off-color comedy “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. His minimalist t-shirts in the first few seasons are funny and seem AOK. After he put on that fifty pounds? No. Not so much. The weight adds a new, negative dimension (pun intended).

That’s not to say heavier people can’t be adventurous…they’re just going to be judged more. So they have to not only have the confidence to try on clothes which, I know from experience, is not always comfortable when you’re heavy, but you have to have the confidence to endure those judgements.

All of this I write because it’s my way to say that if you’re lacking the confidence to toss on a bow tie, drop a few pounds. Nothing makes you want to buy new clothes or get a bit adventurous than feeling like you’re looking good. Those few pounds may help spark the courage to wear the bow tie. And any change of adverse judgement (which is mostly our own perception) will be minimized.

Howard has many interests. To learn more visit his blog and check out his books on Amazon.